Multiple Fatalities From El Paso Shooting, at Least 20 Injured
Click here to read the full article.
20 people were killed and 26 others were injured during a shooting Saturday in El Paso, CNN has reported.
According to the El Paso police department, police responded Saturday to an active shooter at the El Paso Cielo Vista Mall and Walmart. Police also tweeted that they had received multiple reports of multiple shooters.
More from Variety
CNN's Democratic Debate Was a Frantic Lightning Round, But Still an Improvement (Column)
TV Ratings: First Democratic Debate Draws 15.3 Million Viewers
'9-1-1' Billboard Vandalized With Anti-Beto O'Rourke Message
During a press briefing, Sgt. Robert Gomez, a spokesperson for the El Paso police, said a rifle was used and that a white male in his twenties is now in custody. He also said the situation is no longer active and is transitioning into a crime scene.
In a tweet, President Trump promised support from the federal government as the investigation continues.
“Terrible shootings in El Paso, Texas. Reports are very bad, many killed,” he wrote. “Working with State and Local authorities, and Law Enforcement. Spoke to Governor to pledge total support of Federal Government. God be with you all!”
The news of the shooting comes on the heels of another shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in California last weekend. At least three people were killed and 15 others were injured in the mass shooting after Santino William Legan opened fire on a crowd of people at the popular food festival. Another shooting also occurred Tuesday at a Walmart in Mississippi where a disgruntled employee killed two coworkers and injured a police officer.
Presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke was one of the first to respond to reports of the shooting, which took place in his hometown.
“Truly heartbreaking. Stay safe, El Paso,” he wrote in a tweet. “Please follow all directions of emergency personnel as we continue to get more updates.”
O’Rourke represented the area in Congress until 2018 when he decided to run for senate against Republican Ted Cruz. Just a year later he announced his campaign to run for President of the United States in the 2020 election cycle.
Several other presidential candidates have also shared their support for residents within the affected area, including Julian Castro who called the event “truly devastating” and Marianne Williamson who wrote on Twitter, “Prayers for the people of El Paso in this agonizing moment. And prayers for all the rest of us as well, that we might summon up the courage to remove this scourge from our midst. Let us pray and let us act.”
Elizabeth Warren shared a similar sentiment in her own statement, calling for more gun control across America.
“The news out of El Paso is devastating. I’m heartbroken for the victims and their families,” she wrote on Twitter. “Far too many communities have suffered through tragedies like this already. We must act now to end our country’s gun violence epidemic.”
Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
